Name: M51Alternative name: Whirlpool galaxyConstellation: Canes VenaticiRA: 13h 29m 56sDec: +47d 13m 53sDistance: 40 million light yearsObject type: Double galaxySize: 9 arcminutesApparent magnitude: 8.5Notes: The image on the left shows M51 as seen by the
60-inch telescope on Mount Palomar in California. The image was taken
through a filter centered on 365 nanometres which is at the red end of the
visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. M51 is a face-on double
galaxy. The larger of the two galaxies is a spiral and is interacting
with its smaller companion.